[jackbarker]

I'm looking to add some LED shallow can lights (Lithonia ultra thin wafer 6") to a finished ceiling. There is a single switch already in the room - and it controls the top socket of an outlet across the room. There are no other switches in the room - and nothing else controlled by the 1 switch


The switch has red - black - copper. with Red always hot and the black the switched hot.


I cut holes for the lights and see 2 cables that run to the outlet.



Romex 1 live and neutral (black and white) is attached to the always on plug and the neutral is bridged to the switched plug. Copper is grounded.


Romex 2 has the black tied in to the black screw of top plug. The white wire is attached to the black wire from Romex 1 and black screw of the always on plug. Copper is attached to the other ground. There is a junction box on this line that I'd ideally like to use to tie in the 6 LEDs. When I test the junction box with a multimeter -, I see: Black / White = 0, black copper = 0, white copper = 124.


Can I tie in the cans to this junction box - and have them switched? If yes, whats the recommended wiring. I initially did black to black, white ot white, copper to copper - but that didn't work. The cans did not light - and the top switched plug became always live..


If I cannot tie into Romex 2 - how where would you suggest I tie in ?



Everything ready to go - and this is the final step ! Thank you!!!!

 

[rjniles]

Where is the red you say is at the switch? Are there more wires or cables in the switch box?

 

[jackbarker]

The switch has 3 wires. The red is always hot - and appears to come from the basement into the switch. The switch - when active - makes the black wire live. There's alos a ground / copper. That's it for the switch.

 

[rjniles]

A cable with only a black and red conductor is unusual in the US, are you sure there is not a white wire in the back of the box?

 

[jackbarker]

Only a black, red and copper - here's a photo. The house is 17 years old.

 

[jackbarker]

Re: Control LED Cans with 3 way plug circuit?

and here's a picture of the plug wiring. Really appreciate any guidance!

 

[rjniles]

Run a 2 wire cable from the first light to the switched receptacle.

 

[jackbarker]

Thank you. Makes sense - will give it a try tonight. Why 2 wire vs. 3 wires(with the third being ground)?

 

[rjniles]

A 2 wire cable is 2 insulated conductors and a bare ground. Cables are specified by the number of current carrying conductors.

 

[jackbarker]

Thank you so much for all the advice. Worked out perfectly. Do you know if they make a dimmer switch that would work with LEDs and only have the hot wire